More than 4000 competitors have descended on Federation University’s Founders Theatre, competing in the Royal South Street Society’s calisthenics program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
South Street’s chief executive Brett Macdonald said the event was a Ballarat institution.
The graceful solo competition, on Friday, is in its 94th year, and has $1000 in prizemoney.
“We’ve just about sold-out the auditoriums for both the graceful solo and calisthenics solo,” he said.
“Calisthenics is running for 23 days this year, and we work from championship reserve right down to division seven.”
This weekend, the championship reserve seniors will perform, and on Sunday, the youngest competitors will be on-stage.
Clubs from around Australia are in town to compete, with Ballarat represented by the Jayde, Sovereign and Studio Arc clubs.
Mr Macdonald said Federation University had been “wonderful hosts”, providing a home away from home as Her Majesty’s Theatre undergoes urgent repairs.
“It is a little different this year being out of town, but when we’re back in the city next year, Ballarat businesses will be getting their usual rewards,” he said.
“The Founders Theatre really suited our instrumental and choral program, and our dancing program.”
South Street Calisthenics chair Pam McKee said the evolution of the competition was hard to believe.
“It began on October 16, 1903, and ran for one day with 12 pounds as prizemoney,” she said.
“This year we’ll give away over $30,000 in prize money across around 2000 different items.”
Tickets are available to most sessions, with competition beginning at 9am daily until November 3.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
